“Just ask the families in New Orleans who will soon have the chance to remove their sons and daughters from failing schools, and enroll them instead in a school-choice scholarship program,” he told the Urban League in Orlando Friday. “That program in Louisiana was proposed by Democratic state legislators and signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal. Just three years after Katrina, they are bringing real hope to poor neighborhoods, and showing how much can be achieved when both parties work together for real reform.”Earlier: VP buzz rises around Jindal

Last week, Jindal – who is widely believed to be on McCain’s VP shortlist - seemed to take himself out of the running, telling an interviewer he would not be joining the GOP ticket this cycle.

"I'm not going to be the vice presidential nominee or vice president. I'm going to help Senator McCain get elected, as governor of Louisiana," he told a FOX interviewer.

"Let me be clear: I have said in every private and public conversation, I've got the job that I want."

GOP sources gave told CNN the 37-year-old Jindal is being considered for the keynote address slot at next month’s Republican National Convention.

In his July appearance before the NAACP, John McCain was full of praise for opponent Barack Obama.

With a new month comes a new message: the presumptive Republican nominee’s speech Friday at the Urban League’s annual gathering in Orlando was a polar opposite of that address. McCain mentioned several black leaders – including former Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. and activist Al Sharpton – by name as he lauded bi-partisan efforts to overhaul the nation’s school systems. But the presumptive Democratic nominee, who is slated to address the group tomorrow, rated several swipes.

"You'll hear from my opponent, Senator Obama tomorrow, and if there's one thing he always delivers it's a great speech,” said McCain as he began his address, which criticized Obama on issues ranging from tax policy to education reform. “But I hope you'll listen carefully, because his ideas are not always as impressive as his rhetoric."

Later, talking about his support for school vouchers, he added: "If Senator Obama continues to defer to the teachers unions, instead of committing to real reform, then he should start looking for new slogans."

soundoff(159 Responses)

I'm sure McCain has hit quite a few people in his career. He doesn't have the right temperement for the Presidency.

August 1, 2008 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

Peter

Jindal said no, and i like the fact he said no. No one wants to go down with McShame

August 1, 2008 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

Sherry

JUST THREE YEARS AFTER KATRINA........JUST TELL THAT TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HOMELESS AND ARE STRUGGLING.

OUR REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT STOOD BY AND DID NOTHING TO HELP WHEN KATRINA HIT

I FOR ONE WILL NEVER FORGET OR FORGIVE THEM FOR THAT.

August 1, 2008 05:38 pm at 5:38 pm |

aaa

crook

August 1, 2008 05:39 pm at 5:39 pm |

joe

He probably will pick Hillary. She started out a Republican and flip-flopped over to the Dem. party. Did she ever conceded and turn over her Delegates? He's waiting to see if Obama picks if her if he don't anything could go. OBAMA '08

August 1, 2008 05:47 pm at 5:47 pm |

Tim E

Never in all my life have I wished, on August 1, that I would awake tomorrow morning and my calendar would read "November." This campaign is not just sick, it is terminal.

August 1, 2008 05:48 pm at 5:48 pm |

Lloyd, VA

Four thousand dead soldiers–you make your choice.

Obama 08

August 1, 2008 05:55 pm at 5:55 pm |

Neutral

Americans are fools. We all know that. Voting for Bush instead of Gore and again for Bush instead of Kerry. With America in recession they are about to vote Bush's mirror image into the whitehouse. Next thing? Iran bombed and bombed, Iran attacked Israel, Middle East in crisis, oil price, food price over the roof...

Semi-literates!

August 1, 2008 06:18 pm at 6:18 pm |

rhoward

Why is Senator McCain putting out all the negative ads? Is it because he really doesn't have a clue about helping America out of the mess the Republicans helped to make?

It's pretty sad when you have to tear someone else down to make yourself look good.

By the way, Senator McCain needs to stop with the so-called jokes regarding women, war and religion. It will eventually backfire because he's not funny and doesn't seem to know or care when he crosses the line.